U.S. prosecutor quits Aryan case, citing security

Updated 11:43 am, Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Video: What is the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas?

It's modeled after the "original" Aryan Brotherhood, started in the 1960s in California's San Quentin Prison.

Media: San Francisco Chronicle

A federal prosecutor in a major case in Houston against the notorious Aryan Brotherhood of Texas prison gang has withdrawn over security concerns in the wake of the weekend killings of a Dallas-area district attorney and his wife, said a source familiar with the case.

Jay Hileman, an assistant U.S. Attorney, had been assigned to the case.

"I'd say it's not a regular thing. You know people get transferred and moved around the (prosecutor's) office, so people get moved on and off cases," said Saper. "But I would say this situation is probably a little bit different from all of those."

State and federal authorities are investigating whether the killings of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, along with the January slaying of his assistant, Mark Hasse, are linked to alleged threats by white supremacist gang members to retaliate against law enforcement.

The weekend slayings at the prosecutor's home have prompted stepped up security measures to protect a number of Texas prosecutors, including Harris County District Attorney Mike Anderson.

Photo: Ho, AFP/Getty Images

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Kaufman County Mike McLelland and his wife were found dead in their home -- the second murder of a US prosecutor in the same office in less than two months, sparking fears of a larger plot. In January, Kaufman County assistant district attorney Mark Hasse, 57, reportedly investigating the white supremacist Aryan Brotherhood, was gunned down just outside a courthouse in a small Texan town. On March 30, McLelland, and his wife, Cynthia Woodward McLelland, were found shot dead at their home.

Kaufman County Mike McLelland and his wife were found dead in their home -- the second murder of a US prosecutor in the same office in less than two months, sparking fears of a larger plot. In January, Kaufman

A poster depicting different aspects of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas is seen during a press conference at the US Attorney's office Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, in Houston. Officials spoke about the arrest of dozens of Texas members of the white supremacist Aryan Brotherhood gang on federal racketeering charges for crimes including murder, kidnapping, arson, gambling and trafficking in methamphetamine and cocaine. 34 members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas are named in a lengthy federal indictment unsealed Friday by Justice Department prosecutors in Houston, described as an effort to deal a major blow against a racist gang known for its violence.

A poster depicting different aspects of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas is seen during a press conference at the US Attorney's office Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, in Houston. Officials spoke about the arrest of dozens

Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer speaks during a press conference at the US Attorney's office Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, in Houston. Officials spoke about the arrest of dozens of Texas members of the white supremacist Aryan Brotherhood gang on federal racketeering charges for crimes including murder, kidnapping, arson, gambling and trafficking in methamphetamine and cocaine. 34 members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas are named in a lengthy federal indictment unsealed Friday by Justice Department prosecutors in Houston, described as an effort to deal a major blow against a racist gang known for its violence.

Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer speaks during a press conference at the US Attorney's office Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, in Houston. Officials spoke about the arrest of dozens of Texas members of the white

This photo is courtesy of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is of Aryan Brotherhood of Texas general Steven Walter Cooke. He is holding a 50 caliber military style assault rifle.

This photo is courtesy of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is of Aryan Brotherhood of Texas general Steven Walter Cooke. He is holding a 50 caliber military style assault rifle.

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Steven Walter Cooke, a general in the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. The undated photos are courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and have never before been published. They were found on a phone that was captured by law-enforcement authorities and used to prosecute Cooke, a Tomball resident.

Steven Walter Cooke, a general in the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. The undated photos are courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and have never before been published. They were

Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Attorney's office Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, in Houston. Officials announced the arrest of dozens of Texas members of the white supremacist Aryan Brotherhood gang on federal racketeering charges for crimes including murder, kidnapping, arson, gambling and trafficking in methamphetamine and cocaine. 34 members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas are named in a lengthy federal indictment unsealed Friday by Justice Department prosecutors in Houston, described as an effort to deal a major blow against a racist gang known for its violence.

Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Attorney's office Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, in Houston. Officials announced the arrest of dozens of Texas members of the white

The federal racketeering case against 34 members of the racist gang, a three-year investigation spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI, was announced in November by Assistant U.S. Attorney General Lanny Breuer and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Three slayings were attributed to gang members, including the killing of a Houston man whose bullet-riddled body was found near the Houston Ship Channel.

Little official comment

Angela Dodge, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, issued a brief statement.

More Information

Houston defense attorney Tom Berg, who has represented members of several prison gangs, said it was unusual for an assistant prosecutor to withdraw from a case.

But he noted that federal racketeering cases that involve homicides are considered very dangerous.

"It's speculation, and sure it could be jitters based on Kaufman County, or it could be something completely independent that provoked it," said Berg, who added that law enforcement would be reluctant to release any specific information.

"So there's a general hunkering down going on with prosecutors that are related to some of these gang prosecutions."

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